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August 8, 2007

Rollercoaster

The Red Sox lead the AL East by 5 games. Their largest division lead was 11.5 games (on May 27-29). Over a long season, it's no surprise to find out that the lead has waxed and waned.

May 29: 11.5June 14: 7.5June 24: 11July 18: 6.5July 28: 9August 8: 5

On May 29, the Yankees trailed Boston by 14.5 GB. Now they are only 5 GB. But again, it has not been a steady advance. New York closed to within 7.5 back on June 14, but dropped back to 11.5 only nine days later.

We knew that something like this was bound to happen during the time the MFY had the opportunity to beat up on bad teams. However, their schedule is about to get a lot tougher and ours is about to get much easier.

Red Sox Yankees @BAL @CLE TB BAL LAA DET @TB @LAA @CHW @DET @NYY BOS

There are serious questions about this team -- Schilling and Lester (and Wakefield) in the rotation and the maddeningly inconsistency of the hitters. However, I advise waiting until after the series in the Bronx before anyone even considers thinking about beginning to possibly panic.

15 comments:

Well, I truly hope I'm wrong, but the way the Yankees are playing right now, compared to the way the Red Sox are playing, strength of schedule means next to nothing. Boston had trouble with Kansas City at home the last time around. New York would have outscored them 35-3. I was pamicky when Boston was in front by by 10, because to me they haven't looked like a strong team since May. When you have Julio Lugo matched up against Derek Jeter at the key position in the field, you have a lot to worry about.

My comments were out of line yesterday, now that I've had a cool down and sleep period, I'm no longer in panic mode. I was just in a bitter mood because last night's game just made me feel so helpless. It started out well, and once Wake was taken to the woodshed it felt like the collective bubble was burst and the sox just wanted to get out of there to party with the mickey mouse club.

Today is a new day, we're still up 5 games and the Yankees clearly won't continue to tear up other teams the way they're destroying these sub .500 teams. We've got a ton of games against sub .500 teams coming up, lets make em count!

re BEckett: Gotta be because they wanna keep Curt and Wake on regular rest, while Dice has to go Friday, as that already gives him an extra day. So Josh would go Monday. Then we have a doubleheader that week, and.... I don't know, this sound plausibe to anyone?

They both win their games on the 31st vs. Bal/TB and Boston is 10 or 11 GA heading into September.

Keep in mind, my predictions are 100% subjective and have not taken into account any pitching matchups, intangibles, injuries etc. I think it's pretty plausible, as long as the red sox bring their A-game to shitty teams and take advantage of them and the yankees cool off against good teams.